Basket-style carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier for a plurality of objects arranged in four rows includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, a medial panel extending between the first and second end walls, the medial panel being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls, first primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the first primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first side wall and the medial panel, second primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the second primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to said second side wall and the medial panel, a primary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second side walls, and a secondary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second primary partition structure.

This is a continuation of International Application Serial Number WO97/05026, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.08/508,767 filed Jul. 28, 1995, now abandoned.

This is a continuation of International Application Serial Number WO97/05026, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.08/508,767 filed Jul. 28, 1995, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to paperboard carriers forarticles such as beverage bottles. More particularly, it relates to abasket-style carrier in which the articles are arranged in four parallelrows.

One traditional paperboard carrier for articles such as beverage bottlesis the basket-style carrier. An example of such a carrier is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,927,009. The carrier includes side, end and bottomwalls, and is typically used with articles grouped in two rows. Locatedbetween the two rows is a medial panel which connects the end walls andincludes an opening to provide a handle by which the basket may becarried. In its usual form, this carrier also includes partition panelsextending between the medial panel and the side walls, to defineindividual cells into which the articles may be placed.

Basket-style carriers are normally manufactured and shipped in a gluedbut collapsed condition. The end walls are folded at the medial panel,so that they are collapsed onto themselves to bring the side wallstogether. The medial panel is thus displaced longitudinally with respectto the side walls. For use, such as at a beverage bottling facility, thebasket is erected by moving the medial panel back into alignment withthe side walls. The end walls are brought into an unfolded position, andthe set-up basket is available to be loaded with the articles to becarried.

Attempts have been made to develop basket-style carriers for largermultiples of articles arranged in more than two rows. For example, in acarrier for twelve beverage bottles, the articles may be arranged infour rows, two rows located on each side of the handle. However, thelarge size of such a carrier and the complex structure required for thepartitions make it difficult to design such a carrier in which thenormal folding from collapsed to erected condition can be carried out.In addition, the length of the required bottom wall makes it difficultto provide a bottom wall with sufficient rigidity to support the weightof four rows of articles.

One example of a basket carrier for articles arranged in four rows canbe seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,129. The carrier disclosed thereinsatisfies the strength requirements of the bottom carrier panel, sincethe bottom wall is connected to both side walls and both end walls byeither fold lines or secured glue flaps. However, this cartonconstruction is disadvantageous in that it requires special equipment toset up and glue the article carrier at the appropriate time. It is notpossible to completely preglue and then collapse the carrier as with aconventional basket carrier, since the bottom panel when the carrier iscompleted is attached on all four sides.

Accordingly, a need exists for a basket-style carrier which can beerected from a collapsed condition using conventional techniques that iscapable of carrying articles arranged in four rows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a carrier for a plurality ofobjects arranged in four rows, wherein two bottom walls are provided forthe carrier. A primary bottom wall is connected so as to extend beneathall four rows of the articles contained within the carrier, while asecondary bottom wall extends beneath only the two inner rows of thefour article rows.

In accordance with one form of the invention, the carrier includessubstantially parallel first and second side walls, and substantiallyparallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls. Amedial panel extends between and connects the first and second endwalls, the medial panel being disposed between and substantiallyparallel to the first and second side walls. A first primary partitionstructure extends between and is connected to the first and second endwalls, the first primary partition structure being disposed between andsubstantially parallel to the first side wall and the medial panel. Asecond primary partition structure extends between and is connected tothe first and second end walls, the second primary partition structurebeing disposed between and substantially parallel to the second sidewall and the medial panel. A primary bottom wall is connected to andextends between the lower portions of the first and second side walls. Asecond bottom wall connects and extends between the lower portions ofthe first and second primary partition structures.

The carrier may further include secondary partition structure extendingbetween and connected to the first side wall and the first primarypartition structure, the first primary partition structure and themedial panel, the medial panel and the second primary partitionstructure, and the second primary partition structure and the secondside wall to define therewith a plurality of cells for receiving theobjects.

The first and second bottom walls may be disposed in substantiallyface-to-face contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, showing the carrier in set-upcondition and with beverage bottles loaded therein.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the carrier of FIG. 1 may beformed.

FIGS. 3-6 are a series of views showing the manner in which the blank ofFIG. 2 may be folded to form the completed collapsed carrier.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in an intermediateposition during set up from a collapsed to erected carrier.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the carrier of FIG. 1, shown with thearticles removed.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a carrier in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the present invention, taken along the line 9--9 in FIG.8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring generally now to FIG. 1, the present invention provides anarticle carrier 10 for carrying articles such as beverage bottles 12.While the carrier 10 is described therein generally in connection withthe carrying of beverage bottles 12, it will be recognized that thecarrier is suitable for the carrying of other products, such asnon-beverage products packaged in bottles, beverage and non-beverageproducts packaged in cans, and other liquid and non-liquid products.

The carrier 10 includes a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 16.Connecting the side walls are a first end panel 18, formed of end panel20 and end panel 22, and second end wall 24, formed of end panels 26 and28. Extending between end walls 18 and 24, disposed between the secondand third rows of bottles 12, is a medial panel 30. Medial panel 30 isprovided near its upper end with an opening 32 that provides a handle bywhich the carrier 10 may be lifted.

A blank from which the carrier 10 may be formed is shown in FIG. 2, theblank being shown with the inner surface visible. Side wall 14 isconnected to end panel 22 along a fold line 34, and at an opposite endto end panel 28 along a fold line 36. Side wall 16 is connected at oneend to end panel 20 along a fold line 38, and at an opposite end to endpanel 26 along a fold line 40. Side wall 16 is also connected to primarybottom wall panel 42 along a fold line 44. Panel 42 is in turn connectedalong fold line 46 to primary bottom wall panel 48. Panel 48 is in turnconnected along fold line 50 to a glue flap 52.

End panel 26 is connected along a fold line 54 to a medial panel 56.Medial panel 56 is connected along fold line 58 to a medial panel 60.Panel 60 is also connected to end panel 28 along a fold line 62. Foldline 58 includes a plurality of cutouts 64. Such cutouts 64 are includedfor relieving the accumulation of folded material during the folding andgluing of the blank, as is typical in the art. Additionally, medialpanels 56 and 60 include openings 66 and 68, respectively, such openingscooperating to form a portion of the carton handle.

Connected along a fold line 70 at the lower end of medial panel 56 is anattachment panel 72. Attachment panel 72 is connected by fold line 74 toa secondary partition panel 76. Partition panel 76 includes fold lines78 which connect the outer end of partition panel 76 to an anchoringflap 80. Also, partition panel 76 is connected by fold lines 82 and 84to primary partition straps 86 and 88, respectively. Straps 86 and 88are connected by fold lines 90 and 92, respectively, to an anchoringflap 94.

Formed between secondary partition panel 76 and medial panel 56 is anaperture 96 that defines along the edge of medial panel 56 a hook 98used for temporarily retaining the carrier in an erected position duringbottle loading. Such a hook structure is well known in the art, andcooperates with a notch 100 formed in bottom wall panels 42 and 48.

An alternate hook structure wherein a hook having two retention tabs isdisposed along the erected medial panel intermediate its ends, andcooperates with an aperture formed in the bottom wall panels, may beseen by reference to co-pending, concurrently filed U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. (D-2868). Such disclosure is herein incorporated byreference.

Connected along a fold line 102 at the lower end of medial panel 60 isan attachment panel 104. Attachment panel 104 is connected by fold line106 to a secondary partition panel 108. Partition panel 108 includesfold lines 110 which connect the outer end of partition panel 108 to ananchoring flap 112. Also, partition panel 108 is connected by fold lines114 and 116 to primary partition straps 118 and 120, respectively.Straps 118 and 120 are connected by fold lines 122 and 124,respectively, to an anchoring flap 126.

Formed between secondary partition panel 108 and medial panel 60 is anaperture 128 that defines along the edge of medial panel 60 a hook 130used in cooperation with hook 98 and notch 100 for temporarily retainingthe carrier in an erected position during bottle loading.

End panel 20 is connected along the fold line 132 to partial medialpanel 134. Partial medial panel 134 is in turn connected along a foldline 136 to partial medial panel 138, which is also connected along foldline 140 to end panel 22. Disposed between partial medial panels 134 and138 is a relief aperture 142 for relieving material during the foldingof the blank into the completed carrier.

Also connected to partial medial panel 134 is outer handle panel 144,connected along fold line 146. Outer handle panel 144 is connected to asecond outer handle panel 148 along fold line 150. Outer handle panel148 is also connected to partial medial panel 138 along fold line 152.Outer handle panels 144 and 148 are disposed generally between, but areseparated from, end panels 20 and 22.

Partial medial panels 134 and 138 are provided with apertures 154 and156, respectively, which form a part of the handle for the completedcarrier. Handle panels 144 and 148 are also provided with apertures 158and 160, which form a portion of the handle, and further includecushioning flaps 162 and 164, respectively, which extend partially intothe apertures 158 and 160, respectively, to cushion the hand of a personcarrying the carrier by the handle.

A secondary partition panel 166 is connected to partial medial panel 134along fold line 168. An anchoring flap 170 is connected at the oppositeend of secondary partition panel 166 by fold lines 172. An upper primarypartition strap 174 is connected to secondary partition panel 166 alongfold line 176. Strap 174 includes an anchoring flap 178 connected at oneend along fold lines 180, and an anchoring panel 182 connected at anopposite end along fold line 184. A lower primary partition strap 186 isalso connected to secondary partition panel 166 along fold line 188.Anchoring flap 190 is connected to strap 186 along fold lines 192, whilethe opposite end of strap 186 is connected to anchoring panel 182 alongfold line 194.

A secondary bottom panel 196 is connected to the lower edge of primarypartition strap 186 along fold line 198. Secondary bottom panel 200 isconnected to bottom panel 196 along fold line 202.

A secondary partition panel 204 is connected to partial medial panel 138along fold line 206. An anchoring flap 208 is connected at the oppositeend of secondary partition panel 204 by fold lines 210. An upper primarypartition strap 212 is connected to secondary partition panel 204 alongfold line 214. Strap 212 includes an anchoring flap 216 connected at oneend along fold lines 218, and an anchoring panel 220 connected at anopposite end along fold line 222. A lower primary partition strap 224 isalso connected to secondary partition panel 204 along fold line 226.Anchoring flap 228 is connected to strap 226 along fold lines 230, whilethe opposite end of strap 226 is connected to anchoring panel 220 alongfold line 232.

A secondary bottom panel 234 is connected to the lower edge of primarypartition strap 224 along fold line 236.

To assemble the blank of FIG. 2 into the completed, collapsed carrier,glue is first applied to attachment panels 72 and 104 and anchoringflaps 94 and 126 as shown generally by cross hatching in FIG. 2.Attachment panel 72, secondary partition panel 76, straps 86 and 88 andanchoring flap 94 are then rotated along fold line 70 and positioned onmedial panel 56 and end panel 26, as shown in FIG. 3. As a result of theglue which has been applied, attachment panel 72 is secured to medialpanel 56, and anchoring flap 94 is secured to end panel 26.

Similarly, attachment panel 104, secondary partition panel 108, straps118 and 120 and anchoring flap 126 are all pivoted about fold line 102and placed in position on medial panel 60 and end panel 28 as shown inFIG. 3. Attachment panel 104 is thereby secured to medial panel 60, andanchoring flap 126 is secured to end panel 28.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, glue is next applied to outer handlepanels 144 and 148, and to anchoring flaps 170, 178, 190, 208, 216 and228. The right hand portion of the blank as shown in FIG. 3, includingpartial medial panels 134 and 138, is pivoted about fold lines 132, 146,152 and 140. The folded portion of the blank is then generallypositioned on end panels 20 and 22 and partially on side panels 14 and16, as shown in FIG. 4. Because of the glue previously applied,anchoring panel 170 is secured to side panel 16, anchoring panels 178and 190 are secured to end panel 20, anchoring flap 208 is secured toside panel 14, and anchoring flaps 216 and 228 are secured to end panel22.

For the next step in the folding and gluing of the blank, glue isapplied to anchoring flaps 80 and 112 as shown in FIG. 4. Additionally,glue is applied to a portion of anchoring panels 182 and 220, and topartial medial panels 134 and 138 in the vicinity of apertures 154 and156. After the application of glue, the left hand portion of the blankas shown in FIG. 4 is folded along fold lines 36 and 40, thereby foldingend panels 26 and 28 and medial panels 56 and 60 into overlappingrelationship with side panels 14 and 16 and partial medial panels 134and 138. As a result of the glue previously applied, anchoring flap 80is secured to side panel 16, while anchoring flap 112 is secured to sidepanel 14. Anchoring panel 182 is secured to a portion of secondarypartition panel 76, and anchoring panel 220 is secured to a portion ofsecondary partition panel 108. Additionally, medial panels 56 and 60 aresecured to partial medial panels 134 and 138, respectively. Thepartially completed carrier then appears as shown in FIG. 5.

As the final step in the gluing and folding process, glue is applied asshown in FIG. 5 to medial panel 56 and partial medial panel 134. Glue isalso applied to secondary bottom panel 200 and glue flap 52. The upperportion of the partially completed carton shown in FIG. 5 is then foldedalong fold line 58 to secure medial panel 60 to medial panel 56 andpartial medial panel 138 to partial medial panel 134. Secondary bottompanel 200 is then folded along fold line 202 to secure bottom panel 200to secondary bottom panel 234. Finally, primary bottom panel 48 isfolded along fold line 46 to secure glue flap 52 to the outer surface ofside panel 14.

The completed and collapsed carton is shown in FIG. 6.

The carton may be erected as shown in FIG. 7. Side walls 14 and 16 aremoved longitudinally with respect to the medial panel structure 30. As aresult, end panels 20, 22, 26 and 28 are moved into position to form theend walls 18 and 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Such a method of erecting istypical of basket-style carriers of the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 7, however, the carrier of the present invention formsa double bottom structure. A primary bottom wall is formed from primarybottom panels 42 and 48, connected to side walls 14 and 16. Panels 42and 48 move into a planar relationship as the carton is erected, therebyforming the primary bottom wall.

In a similar manner, the secondary bottom wall is formed from secondarybottom panels 196 and 200. These panels are connected to the primarypartition structure (refer back, for example, to FIG. 2). Set up of thecarrier causes panels 196 and 200 to move into a planar position,thereby creating a secondary bottom wall which extends between theprimary partition structures. As a result, bottles or other articleswhich are loaded into the carton into the outermost rows will bepositioned only on the primary bottom wall, on one of the panels 42 and48. Bottles or other articles positioned on the innermost two rows willbe supported by a double-ply bottom structure, and will be disposed oneither panel 196 or 200, which will in turn be positioned in contactwith panel 42 or 48, respectively.

Further reference may be made to FIG. 8, which shows the erected carrierin top plan view. From FIG. 8, it can be seen that the first primarypartition structure 238 is positioned between side wall 14 and medialpanel structure 30, and is comprised of strap 212 (and strap 224, notshown) and strap 120 (and strap 118, not shown). A second primarypartition structure 240 is disposed between medial panel structure 30and side wall 16, and comprises strap 174 (and strap 186, not shown) andstrap 86 (and strap 88, not shown). Secondary partition structure 242,comprised of secondary partition panel 204 and secondary partitionstructure 244, comprised of secondary partition panel 108, interconnectsside wall 14, primary partition structure 238, and medial panelstructure 30. Secondary partition structure 246, comprised of secondarypartition panel 166, and secondary partition structure 248, comprised ofsecondary partition panel 76, interconnects side wall 16, primarypartition structure 240 and medial partition structure 30. The primaryand secondary partition structures together define a plurality of cellsfor receiving the bottles or other articles to be packaged within thecarrier.

A number of variations may be made to the preferred embodiment asdescribed herein. For instance, the primary partition structure couldhave a height which is less than that of the side and end walls. Anexample of such a carrier can be seen in FIG. 9. In such a case, thesecondary bottom wall 196a, 200a could be positioned somewhat above theprimary bottom wall 42, 48. As a result, the bottles held within theinnermost rows would be presented in a raised, tiered configuration withrespect to the outermost bottles.

Other variations, such as providing full height end and side walls,could be made using techniques generally known in the art.

Still other variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment, theaccompanying drawings and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier for a plurality of objects arranged infour rows, comprising:substantially parallel first and second sidewalls; substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnectingsaid side walls; a medial panel extending between and connected to saidfirst and second end walls, said medial panel being disposed between andsubstantially parallel to said first and second side walls; firstprimary partition structure extending between and connected to saidfirst and second end walls, said first primary partition structure beingdisposed between and substantially parallel to said first side wall andsaid medial panel; second primary partition structure extending betweenand connected to said first and second end walls, said second primarypartition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel tosaid second side wall and said medial panel; a primary bottom wallconnected and extending between lower portions of said first and secondside walls; and a secondary bottom wall connected and extending betweenlower portions of said first and second primary partition structures. 2.A carrier as defined in claim 1, further comprising secondary partitionstructure extending between and connected to said first side wall andsaid first primary partition structure, said first primary partitionstructure and said medial panel, said medial panel and said secondprimary partition structure, and said second primary partition structureand said second side wall to define therewith a plurality of cells forreceiving the objects.
 3. A carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein saidprimary and secondary bottom walls are disposed in substantiallyface-to-face contact.
 4. A carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein saidsecondary bottom wall is disposed in a spaced relationship above saidprimary bottom wall.